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O320/360 crankcase / Solid crankshaft question

sansoneservices

Well Known Member
There's 2 crankcase styles with dyna focal mounts. 1 style is intended for solid crankshaft, FP prop. The other style crankcase is for CS prop. Since my O360 governor is rear mounted with an external tube going into the nose section of the crankcase, why wouldn't the drilled crankshaft supply oil to the prop? Is the O320 crankcase drilled differently at the front main bearing?
Thanks for explaining
 
The 150hp O320s for fixed pitch only may have a 4 piece front bearing setup and if so they might not have the hole drilled for the prop control oil feed.

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As we’ve previously ascertained, O320 *solid* cranks don’t exist :ROFLMAO: but what DOES exist is hollow cranks without the hole in the front section for the oil feed tube.

What I don't know is whether the front bearing area of the case is the same whether you use a 2 or 4 piece bearing. My engine was a 150hp and was then rebuilt as a 160, but I am pretty certain the guy who did the "overhaul" (if you can call it that) didn't send the cases off for any work of this nature.

By my understanding the things an O320 needs for constant speed use is:

- Oil hole drilled in the front of the case
- 2 piece front bearing
- No drain hole on the left side of the main bearing (or this needs to be plugged if present)
- A crank with the oil feed tube, with the front plug removed and rear installed
- Governor drive pad on the accessory case

That's it. Some of those things you can't find out without dismantling the engine unless the engine builder kept diligent records. If the case doesn't have the hole drilled, Divco can add that for you. There may also be a hole in the front bearing area on the left side of those cases for fixed pitch only engines but this can be plugged. That's been documented here on VAF I think.

FWIW my 1975 wide deck O320 was originally fitted in a Rallye, and despite being fixed pitch 150hp it had the 2 piece front bearing and accessory pad for the governor. It had the hole for the oil feed too so it was easy to convert.
 
Thanks, Divco has a o320 case I might purchase for my o360 w/CS prop. Current lead time at Divco is 6 months. To avoid the down time I'm considering assembling this while my o360 case is away for 6 months. My 360 has the 2 piece nose bearing..
Is the front main bearing section of the 320 fixed pitch drilled for prop oil feed?
 
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Thanks, Divco has a o320 case I might purchase for my o360 w/CS prop. Current lead time at Divco is 6 months. To avoid the down time I'm considering assembling this while my o360 case is away for 6 months. My 360 has the 2 piece nose bearing..
Is the front main bearing section of the 320 fixed pitch drilled for prop oil feed?
You’d need to ask Divco exactly what they have - my engine was a 320-E2A which is “fixed pitch only” yet it had everything except the actual governor drive adapter. I’ve seen another -E which didn’t have the hole in the case at all for the prop oil feed. So there seems to be little in the way of consistency, plus these cases can be modified over time. Maybe ask for photos? I’m sure they can tell you anyway

Also ask Divco for their expedited service fee. They charged $300 for this and turnaround was 6 weeks.
 
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